Uso del preservativo masculino en las relaciones con coito vaginal de jóvenes españoles entre catorce y veinticuatro años ∗ Male condom usage in vaginal intercourse relations by spanish youngsters aged fourteenth to twenty fourth

the male condom continues to be the primary method of preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including Hiv. this is a transversal descriptive research, their objective is assess the frequency of use of the male condom in sexual relations involving vaginal penetration using a sample of young spanish men from 14 to 24 years of age. We attempt to identify reliable predictors for condom use, factors that predispose, facilitate and reinforce its consistent use. the sample was made up of 2.171 young belonging to three regions in spain (galicia, Madrid and andalusia) among the ages of 14 and 24. a 50,4 % of the young men polled expressed having had vaginal intercourse in the previous six months. Participants who were 18-year-old and older as well as those who engaged more frequently in sexual activity were less likely to use the male condom at all times. Taking the Precede model as a point of reference, the models of logistic regression identified the following variables as reliable predictors: a declared intention of partaking in non-risk conduct with a stable partner and the self-perceived skill at using the male condom with a stable partner (within the group of predisposing factors); having used the male condom the first time they engaged in vaginal intercourse, the habit of speaking to one’s partner about sexual practices, speaking to one’s partner about prevention methods to use, and low frequency of sexual relations with vaginal penetration (within the group of facilitating factors); having felt a sense of guilt or repentance for not taking precautions after engaging in vaginal intercourse (within the group of reinforcing factors). In conclusion the results of this study confirm the utility of the Precede model to carry out the diagnosis of the sexual behaviour.